AITCAP 2024
Accessibility Information
AITCAP commitment to access and inclusion
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will be hosting an open day on Monday 19 August at 11am* for AITCAP attendees to tour the facilities and get acquainted with the layout prior to the conference.
Please register your expression of interest if you wish to attend.
*subject to interest, date and time to be finalised
We want to welcome people of all abilities to all parts of this event.
Our team’s commitment is to do our best to accommodate all of your access requirements.
On this page you will find all the information we have gathered about accessibility features for our event. We’ll update it regularly.
However, we know that might not be enough so:
1. You can contact us with any question or feedback at aitcap@getaboutable.com
2. When you register for our events, you will have an opportunity to detail your access requirements in the checkout process
Accessibility Information for AITCAP 2024
Best contact for all questions regarding accessibility
Nicole Campbell – aitcap@getaboutable.com
AITCAP Easy English Accessible Guide
Conference Venue
The 2024 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference will take place in the Sovereign Room at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, also referred to as MCEC.
Conference content
We will provide an Auslan interpretation (Auslan is the Australian Sign Language) and Live Captioning for our speakers’ sessions.
Speakers will have received advice on how to make their presentations as accessible as possible, including using high-contrast colours.
GetAboutAble accepts Companion Cards.
Accommodation options
Please visit our Melbourne 2024 page for information about accommodation options, including accessible rooms and discounted prices.
We recognise everyone has different requirements for their accommodation, so please let us know if you need further assistance.
Getting to AITCAP
Operating across 16 lines, 222 stations and 998 kilometres of track seven days a week, Metro Trains Melbourne can get you to and from AITCAP safely and easily.
Take the train to avoid traffic, save on petrol and parking, and arrive at the conference stress free.
The closest station to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is Southern Cross. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk or short tram ride using routes 96, 109, or 12 to stop 124A Casino/MCEC/Clarendon Street.
Travellers Aid offer a free connection assistance service at Southern Cross Station for people with mobility needs. Find out more about this service and the accessibility of Metro Trains’ network.
Travellers Aid
We are proud to be partnering with Travellers Aid for the 2024 Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference to ensure the conference is accessible & inclusive for everyone. The services Travellers Aid (supported by Yarra Trams) will be offering are:
Assistance getting to the conference from your point of arrival:
- Connection service offering a buggy transfer featuring a wheelchair accessible buggy. The buggy is available to assist all delegates with limited mobility from the Clarendon St tram stops and Uber & taxi drop off at Clarendon Street to the closest entry of the Conference. No booking required.
- A team member is available to assist with wheelchair support from the MCEC carpark door 10 to the venue.
Mobility Equipment:
- Hire for the whole / or part of the duration of your stay in Melbourne: https://www.travellersaid.org.au/our-services/mobility-equipment-hire/ We can arrange drop-off at the hotel/accommodation in the CBD.
- Loan Service on-site at MCEC for the day: self-propelled manual wheelchairs (limited availability so please let us know in advance)
Wheelchair assist:
- Two team members with wheelchairs (roamers) will be available to support you to access, get around or find things at the conference. If you advise us this is a service you would like to use, you will be provided with the duty phone number and can request assistance when required.
If you require mobility equipment, please email aitcap@getaboutable.com
Travellers Aid Personal Care Service where a qualified Disability Support Assistant (2 during the lunch break) can provide:
- Mealtime support
- Personal care / toilet assistance
- Communication assistance for people with speech impairments.
We would appreciate you letting us know in advance if you would like to use any of the services above so we can ensure the services are provided. You can let us know in the checkout questions when you register for the conference or email us at aitcap@getaboutable.com
If you need help
We will make sure you can identify our team members easily. You can ask any of them for help. A phone number to send text messages to will be shared with attendees closer to the event.
We will have a form set up where you can also report things anonymously. This form will be managed by the AITCAP Team. Their managers will also have access to make sure there is someone you can communicate with in case there is an issue to report involving the AITCAP Team.
Please contact us in advance if you need something that will require preparation, otherwise you can approach any of our staff on the day and we will help as best we can.
Accessibility Information for
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
The MCEC venue has many accessible features and a virtual tour of the venue is accessible on their website.
A map of the venue will be provided to registered attendees.
Assistance animals
Assistance animals are welcome in any area of the Event, and we can show you areas suitable for toileting. We are happy to orientate anyone in the building. To maximise comfort for both patron and animal, we suggest you contact the GetAboutAble team at aitcap@getaboutable.com to make sure we’ve set up the seating space in a way that allows easy access.
Wheelchair access and hire
There are accessible toilets, ramps and lifts throughout our venue, including lift access from the car parks.
Within all meeting rooms (including the Sovereign Room where our Conference will take place and the Quiet Room), entry and exit press button automatic door release panels are located on the wall next to doors.
They are identified with the international blue and white symbol and use both text and Braille.
The MCEC has a limited number of wheelchairs that can be loaned to you for the day on a first-come, first-served basis. They also have a wider wheelchair available if required.
If you’d like to hire a wheelchair, call the MCEC Customer Service team on +61 3 9235 8000 or email them at enquiries@mcec.com.au.
Assisted hearing
The Sovereign room where the 2024 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference will take place is equipped with TTA Hearing Assisted telephones and hearing assisted devices available to hire free of charge.
To book, send a message to aitcap@getaboutable.com or call the MCEC Customer Service team on +61 3 9235 8000 preferably 1-week ahead of the event.
Vision impairment
Braille is provided on all room door signage and fixed directional signage throughout the venue. MCEC is guide dog friendly and welcomes any registered assistance dogs into all areas of the building.
Travel information
The Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference will mostly take place in the Sovereign Room at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, also referred to as MCEC.
There are 2 main entrances to the MCEC: via Clarendon Street or via the Convention Centre Place.
The closest entrance to the Sovereign room is the Convention Centre Place one. Alternatively, arriving from Clarendon Street, you’ll have to walk approximately 500m inside the building on a level surface to the Sovereign Room.
You can get to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre by car or public transport.
By Public Transport
You can find updated public transport information at https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey or you can call 1800 800 007 and select Option 1.
Tram routes 96, 109 and 12 will all take you directly to the Clarendon Street entrance (Stop 124A Casino/MCEC) – you’ll have to walk approximately 500 metres on level surface inside the MCEC to get to our main conference room.
From Monday to Friday, bus route 237 goes via Southern Cross Station to Eighteen Pence Lane stop on Lorimer Street, which is roughly a six-minute walk to the Convention Centre Place entrance of the MCEC.
The MCEC has a nearby taxi rank outside their venue on Convention Centre Place by the Novotel Melbourne South Wharf hotel entrance. On the Clarendon Street entrance, a one-way vehicle direction with a drop-off point provides access to ramps and the building entrance. A high visibility line defines the curb.
When you arrive from Melbourne Airport (also known as Tullamarine Airport), you have two options.
- You can catch a taxi from outside your terminal or request a rideshare by following the signs outside your terminal to the pick-up zones.
- You can also get the Skybus, which has a service called the Southbank Docklands Express that stops at the Clarendon Street entrance.
By car
If coming by car, here is some useful parking information –
1. Parking at the venue
Wilson Parking operates a secure underground car park at the Exhibition Centre that offers a range of flexible rates. Book online before you visit to ensure you’re guaranteed a great spot. You can book a car spot online at Wilson Parking.
2. Car parks nearby
There is an abundance of convenient secure car parking available around MCEC. Nearby car parks include:
Accessible Parking
There are 20 dedicated Access car parking bays within the Melbourne Exhibition Centre Basement Car Park. All are located near doors 1, 6 and 10 which also have access to vertical lifts. You can book a car spot online at Wilson Parking.
The nearest door to the Convention Centre Lobby and the Sovereign Room is Door 6.
Each Accessible car parking bay features an internationally recognised symbol for Access. To access the vertical lifts and stairs, you will need to get through sensor-operated automatic sliding doors. Large external signage is featured on brightly coloured walls. A large painted arrow highlights the direction to the lift entrance. A safety decal barrier is located near the lifts at chair height.
Entry instructions
From the Clarendon Street entrance
Please note that the Clarendon Street Entrance is the farthest of the two entrances from the Sovereign Room where the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference will take place.
The Clarendon Street entrance features a wide and deep frontage with multiple door entries. All doors have vertical hand grip handles.
It also features an automatic/manual opening and closing door with accessibility features. The door features the internationally recognised blue and white logo. The door has opening-direction signage and a door handle clearly marked “PULL”.
Two access ramps and shallow-graded steps lead to the entrance of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tactile surface indicators and Bollards are positioned to ensure safe pedestrian access to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Clarendon Street Entrance is about 500 metres from the Convention Centre Place and then the Sovereign Room where our conference will take place. GetAboutAble will set up signage to guide you.
The whole surface of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Concourse from the Clarendon Street Entrance to the Convention Centre Place lobby is level with grey low pile carpet tiles and to the right exposed sealed concrete tiles – providing tactile surface variances. Lighting is a mix of natural light and artificial lighting providing good visibility.
To enter the Convention Centre Place lobby, you will have to get through two sets of glass doors with sensor-operated automatic sliding doors.
From the Convention Centre Place entrance
This entrance is the closest to the Sovereign Room where the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference will take place. It leads directly into the Convention Centre Place lobby.
From the Convention Centre Place porte cochere there is a small step up from the road to the footpath directly outside the doors. This is marked with a high visibility strip. There are five curbside lips from the road to the footpath in various locations within the porte cochere.
Concrete bollards are located outside the entrance, which are not marked for high visibility.
Two sets of electronic doors welcome guests in to the building. The doors feature visual indicator strips. The ground is flat.
After Entry instructions
Once you reach the Convention Centre Place lobby (directly from the Convention Centre Place entrance, approximately 450 metres from the Clarendon Street entrance), you will need to access the first floor where the Sovereign Room is located. GetAboutAble signage will be displayed and we are happy to orientate anyone through the venue.
To access the first floor you have 3 options:
- Stairs – Large raised-letter signage shows the stair location and level.
- Escalators – Adjacent to the stairs (coming from the entrance, escalators will be behind the staircase).
- Lift – The entrances to the lift are located:
- At Ground Floor level – Directly next to the Customer Service Desk in the Convention Centre Lobby.
- At Level 1 – Next to the terrace, approximately 200 metres on level surface to the Sovereign Room entrance, which will be on the left when exiting the lift.
All lifts throughout the Melbourne Convention Centre feature:
- Wide double opening doors
- Metal directional strips at entry/exit
- Audible chime upon floor level arrival
- Audio announcement of floor directions and level destination
- Large operational push control buttons
- Raised lettering and Braille on all control buttons
- Illuminated operational control buttons
- Illuminated visual operational/level directional arrow display with visual media screen
- Hands-free emergency communication
- Handrails
- Side barriers below handrails
- Reflective walls for exit direction with low relief texture
- Non-slip vinyl flooring
- Manufacturer’s name and details.
At the front of the Sovereign Room, there will be some tables and chairs including a registration desk. Come to the registration desk first and we will sign you in.
We will have Sunflower lanyards for hidden disabilities if you would like one so that staff know you may need some extra help.
After you have signed in at the registration desk you can head straight to the Sovereign Room, or wait in another location.
There will be chairs set up in the foyer, and free tea and coffee available. Next to the Sovereign Room, a VIP Suite room will be set up as a quiet room for when you need a break. You can also go and sit in the chairs outside to wait.
Inside the Sovereign Room, we will have special areas marked off for people who need a seat saved for them. If you have trouble finding a seat and need assistance you can come and ask someone at the registration desk for help.
During the day
We will put out a program with all the events on the day on our website and send it to all registered attendees.
When you arrive there will be Tea and Coffee, and a chance to talk to other attendees. There will also be breaks for morning tea, afternoon tea, and lunch. These breaks will have food and drinks provided.
This is an industry event, so people will usually be open to meeting and getting to know other people and why they are attending the event. It’s okay to approach other people and introduce yourself if they are not already busy in another conversation or on their phone.
There will be a short session concluding the day, but it’s okay to leave the event at any point during the day. There is no sign-out process, you can just leave when you are ready.
Toilet Directions
Multiple toilets are available throughout the MCEC. The nearest ones to the Sovereign Room will be located approximately 50 metres from it, on the same floor. These include a gender-neutral accessible bathroom with a baby change table, grab rails near the toilet, and enough room for a wheelchair.
MCEC is in the process of installing a Changing Places on the ground floor, we are hoping it will be available in time for the conference but can’t confirm it yet. If it isn’t available, GetAboutAble will provide a hoist for the accessible toilet on the same floor as the Sovereign Room. We will keep this page updated once we receive confirmed information.
If you need adult change facilities please contact us so we can see what we can arrange.
There are two rooms of regular toilets, one with stalls and one with stalls and urinals. Please use whichever toilet you are comfortable with. If you experience any harassment regarding toilet use (or any other issues) please let us know and we will take steps to address it.
Dietary requirements
When you register via our Humanitix Platform, you will be able to indicate your dietary requirements which we will communicate to the catering company.
Meals compatible with said dietary restrictions will be served from a special area so that people can find them easily. If you can’t find this area please ask one of our staff or the catering staff.
If you have other requirements, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Hazards
There will be a lot of people at this event. This is a risk because of COVID-19 and other diseases. We recommend you wear a mask, especially while inside.
Having many people around could also be a hazard in terms of navigating spaces. If you need space away from other people, you can go outside on the terrace or down the stairs to the Convention Centre Lobby or use our quiet room.
If you have a food allergy or need other types of special food please let us know in advance. These meals will be served from a special area so that people can find it easily. If you can’t find this area please ask someone at the registration desk or the catering staff.
If you see any other hazards, or there is something you think we have missed here please tell us!
Can I attend the conference virtually?
Yes, we are working with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to deliver virtual access to AITCAP 2024. Please contact aitcap@getaboutable.com for more information.
